A/N: Hello all! Long time no see, eh? Since January, I believe. Sorry about that. Writer's block you know. I'm not sure when the next time I'll update after this will be, but I hope you enjoy this chapter. I've actually had it written for a while, I just forgot about it because it was buried within all my other files... you have every right to throw rotting vegetables at me for my memory lapse. I won't take offense. In any case, here is the next chapter and I hope you enjoy it! :)

It had been almost a week since Loki had brought Casey to Asgard. When she had first arrived the mischief maker disguised her as a visiting noble. When questioned he simply replied that she was a distant relation of his who needed a place to stay for a while. Casey didn't object for she feared things would end badly if she did. Not many people questioned Loki, since he was disguised as Odin, but some people asked about Casey just to make pleasant conversation. In these cases Loki would answer in the voice that was not his own and then change the subject.

In the week she had been in Asgard Casey had mostly been locked in a room. It wasn't a bad room, but the idea of having so much around her that was new and she couldn't see any of it was a little overwhelming. Her chambers had a cushy bed, a desk, chairs, and a window that looked out on the city below. That was as close as she got to interacting with the inhabitants of this world.

On the day that marked one week of imprisonment in Asgard a small group of guards came to her chambers and asked her to come with them. Eager for any form of social interaction, Casey went with them readily. They took her to a grand hall that shimmered and sparkled. At the end of the hall there was a throne and on the throne sat Odin - at least who most people thought was Odin. He smiled kindly at Casey but she knew it was just for show. As soon as she spotted the one eyed man she hesitated to go any further. Fearing it would look odd if she was afraid of her "relative", Casey finally started walking again.

When she got closer she noticed a tall blonde man with a red cape, who was standing beside the throne. Her jaw dropped. This was Thor! One of the defenders of New York, one of the Avengers! And she was in the same room as him! Casey felt herself blush when he looked her way. He was certainly handsome.

"Ah, my dear! I am pleased you could join us!" Loki-Odin said warmly.

"Glad to be here." Casey grunted.

Thor raised an eyebrow curiously, but gave a bow all the same. Casey curtsied in the dress she had been given. The blonde man stepped forward with a smile.

"Greetings, my friend! It is my pleasure to meet you."

Casey couldn't help but smile back. "The pleasure is all mine, Your Highness." She wasn't sure if that was the correct way to address him, but nobody seemed to notice.

"My father has told me that you are a relative of our family, a distant cousin, correct?"

"Yes," Casey nervously pushed her hair behind her ear and smiled again, "Very distant."

The prince grinned. "All the same it is wonderful to meet you. Might I ask your name, as my father has not yet informed me of it?"

"Um…" Casey glanced at Loki-Odin who shrugged slightly, "I'm Acacia." She was inwardly cringing, realizing that she had chosen the name of her alter-ego.

Thor smiled once more and then bowed again. "Pleased to meet you Lady Acacia."

Casey awkwardly curtsied and glanced at Odin. "Not to be rude, Lo-Odi-uh-sir, but can I ask why my presence was required?"

Loki-Odin gestured to Thor. "I simply thought you might like to meet my son before he returns to Midgard."

"What? You live on Earth?" Casey asked without thinking, "Erm, I mean Midgard."

"For the time being. I have many friends there and there may come a time when I am once more required to take up arms with my brothers and sister of the Avengers team."

"Right, of course," Casey nodded, "I hope you'll have a nice time there."

"Many thanks, Acacia. I hope you enjoy your stay in my father's palace," He glanced at the sun through the window, "I must be off." With that, he raised his hammer and flew out the window. Casey barely had time to blink before he was gone.

Loki-Odin got off of his throne and stepped down to Casey. He offered his arm to her and she took it, just to keep up appearances. He turned to an official looking fellow and then spoke. "I believe Lady Acacia and I will visit the gardens. Hold any business of serious import until my return."

The man nodded and Loki-Odin led Casey through the corridors of the palace and out into a private garden. He then dropped his guise and Loki stood before her with a smirk on his face. Casey groaned and took her arm away from his and stepped back a little bit.

"Like I needed to be reminded of what your ugly face looks like." She muttered.

"Ugly, hmm?" He chuckled.

Casey rolled her eyes. "All right, what do you want?"

"Must you assume I want something?"

"Well, why else would I be let out of my prison?"

"You consider a guest room in the palace of Asgard a prison? Truly you know little." He said, losing some of his merriment.

Casey crossed her arms. "No, I know what a real prison is like. I've been in two or three. But the idea of keeping me locked in there still makes it feel like a prison, even if it is a nice one."

"That is true," Loki nodded, "I apologize for locking you up. I wanted to make sure you would stay out of trouble."

"Me, cause trouble? Never!" Casey laughed.

"In any case, I have brought you out for a reason. I'd like to begin studying you and your… close friend."

Casey snorted. "Yeah, she's as close as a parasite."

Loki continued as if he hadn't heard her. "In order to study both of you I need to see more of Acacia…"

Before he could say another word Casey scowled and crossed her arms defiantly. "Forget about it. If I can help it then she will never see the light of day again so just shut your mouth right now and stop thinking about it."

"Luckily, I don't care much for your opinion. I will see Acacia again."

"This conversation is starting to feel familiar. If I've told you once I've told you a thousand times, Loki, she is staying inside."

"This conversation is feeling familiar because we've had it before, and at the end of it who ended up getting what they wanted? You or me?"

Casey tugged at the fabric of her dress nervously. "You."

"Precisely. If you would stop protesting then we could stop wasting my precious time and I could begin studying." Loki smirked.

"I honestly don't get what is so interesting about this to you. If you had seen the kind of destruction she causes then I don't think you would even want to be around me." To her surprise, the Asgardian suddenly had a guilty looking expression. He wouldn't meet her gaze when she tried to look him in the eye.

"Actually, I have seen a bit of the terror she causes…" He said, and Casey thought she detected a bit of embarrassment in his voice.

"What do you mean?"

"I lead you to believe that Acacia was only free for a few hours, but in reality it was more around the time of two days. I saw first hand the kind of destruction she is capable of in that time."

Casey paled and her legs buckled beneath her. Seeing that she was on the verge of collapsing, Loki helped her over to a bench. After taking a few deep breaths Casey curled her fingers into a fist and socked her companion in the shoulder. From his lack of reaction Casey guessed that he barely registered it, but it still felt good to hit something.

"Y-you let her out for two days?!" Casey stuttered in disbelief. She shook her head and gave a slightly hysterical laugh, "And you still want to release her? I've met some crazy people before but none so crazy as you!"

"I shall choose to take that as a compliment."

"Two days?" She put her face in her hands and took another breath, "What did she do?"

"Are you certain you want to hear?" Loki asked.

After thinking for a moment she nodded. "I need to know."

"From what I saw there was quite a bit of carnage. I believe the official tally of those hospitalized rested someplace around fifty and there were near twenty more who reported injuries caused by a girl fitting your description." Loki seemed to have some sort of grim satisfaction at these numbers while it made Casey want to vomit.

"Were there any…" She swallowed nervously, "Deaths?"

"None that I witnessed and none that were reported."

"Well, there's that I suppose. I'm not a complete monster."

"Fifteen of those hospitalized were police officers, I heard. In all I counted twenty officers - all of them trying and failing to stop your alter ego," He grinned triumphantly, "Do you see now why I wish to unlock all of Acacia's secrets?"

Casey shuddered. "Are you planning another attack on earth?"

"Even if I was I wouldn't tell you. At this time my intention is only to gather an army. An unstoppable army. If I can find a way to get Acacia to behave then she will fight on the front lines," He glanced Casey's way with a look of such evil it made her want to tremble, "That is why I have taken such an interest in you, Casey Elrod." Before she could come up with any form of response he straightened and changed into Odin once more and exited the little garden.

A moment of shock passed over Casey and she felt nothing. Then the moment was over and she realised how dire her future looked. Not only would it be bad for her, it would be a massacre for anyone who Loki decided to turn his army on. The worst part was that there was no way out of it. She was trapped in a world that was not her own without a friend to turn to for help.


Loki felt a bit like laughing after he had scared his prisoner so badly. The foolish girl didn't realise the power that she had. She was afraid of it and now of him as well. Just as he had planned.

Upon returning to the throne room he smiled and sat back down in his throne. His nobles would discuss things about agriculture, war, and the economy, but he merely nodded or shook his head. There were other thoughts on his mind. Thoughts of how to control the monster within Casey, thoughts of the best way to use that monster, and even a few thoughts of his brother's precious Midgard. The irony of having a human attack Thor after he tried so hard to protect them was too good to pass up. The trickster decided to store that idea away with his other future plans and use it as soon as possible. Oh how glorious it was to be king.